A now leading Democratic candidate for California governor is radical, event for that wacked state.
L’État, c’est moi
“I am the state”
King Louis XIV
A high school friend (we graduated 1983) moved to Los Angeles in 1990. A few years later we were discussing the Rodney King trials. After the first jury acquitted, Steve and his girlfriend got ready for the federal trial.
“Mike, we moved all of our good stuff, TV, bikes, etc. to a you lock it place one-hundred miles out the city. We kept at least a half tank of gas in our cars, and agreed if riots started, we would meet at a hotel in this town outside of the city…” I just said, “Steve, that is no way to live.” I think he agreed, they moved to Seattle WA a few years later.
Also no way to live. After Eric Swalwell was removed by party bosses, a leading Democratic gubernatorial candidate became Tom Steyer, a former hedge fund manager. Mr. Steyer made a fortune in energy, now he’s an environmentalist. He does not see an issue with an invasion of the US from our open border, as it will ensure his dying state will continue to gain population. Not citizens, but residents.
Now Mr. Steyer sees a problem with federal enforcement of our emigration laws and borders. A secure border will threaten California’s status as the largest state in the union. That reduces the number of representatives in the Congress and Electoral College members. But Mr. Steyer knows how to handle the ICE problem. He will arrest and prosecute federal agents and officials. From a recent X post:
How California Can Put ICE in Jail
…I’ve made it clear: ICE must be abolished. ICE is acting like a criminal organization, carrying out indiscriminate racial profiling and using violence, intimidation, terrorism, and the murder of Americans to extend Trump’s rule by fear…
…California must build a system that fights fire with fire. To stop this authoritarian takeover, we must counter ICE head-on, and go after both their agents on the streets and their leadership within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
How do we do this? The same way we took on the mob. Put ICE agents and their leadership in jail for their crimes, because that’s how you take on a violent extremist group and win.
As Governor, I will do the following five things.
First, I will pass aggressive legislation that builds on current California statutes and outlaws any law enforcement agency from profiling anyone based on their race, ethnicity, language, occupation, or location..
Second, I will give the state Attorney General the authority to hold ICE’s leadership accountable for violence…empowering the California justice system to criminally prosecute and imprison not just the ICE agents, but their leadership…
Third, I will appoint…a special investigative unit and work with the Attorney General who is specifically tasked with enforcing these California laws, including laws related to the conditions at detention facilities.
Fourth, I will bring those detained and kidnapped by ICE back home by creating a much larger and stronger immigration legal defense infrastructure in our state – funding for more attorneys, investigators, and accredited representatives, as well as legal aid and law school programs—to assist and help those who have been imprisoned without due process.
Fifth, I will launch a massive statewide “Know Your Rights” public education and public awareness campaign. Every Californian, regardless of their immigration status, should know their constitutional and legal rights if you are stopped, detained, or questioned by ICE agents, if you are assembled to protest against ICE, if you are filming ICE agent activities, or if you witness unlawful and illegal actions perpetrated by ICE agents.
Mr. Steyer’s knowledge of the law is so pathetic he may qualify as an attorney, or worse, a law student. Off the top of my head, a state has no authority over federal facilities such as courts and detention facilities. Mr. Steyer, you go to an ICE facility, they won’t let you in.
I suggest he review Arizona v US (2012), where the Supreme Court ruled the federal government has “undoubted power” over enforcement of emigration law. The majority based this from Arlt. 1 Sec 8, Congress’s power to “establish a uniform Rule of Naturalization,” and on its inherent sovereign power to control and conduct foreign relations, see Toll v. Moreno (1979).
There are also several federal statues on this matter.
18 U.S. Code § 372 – Conspiracy to impede or injure officer
If two or more persons conspire to prevent any office holder from discharging his duties, they shall be fined or imprisoned no more than six years.
18 U.S. Code § 111 – Assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees
Whoever forcibly assaults, resists, or interferes with a federal officer performing his duties shall be fined or imprisoned for up to 8 years. If the actor uses a deadly or dangerous weapon, the prison sentence will be enhanced to 20 years.
18 U.S. Code § 1509 – Obstruction of court orders
Whoever, by threats or force, prevents, obstructs or impedes the due exercise of rights or the performance of duties under any order, judgment, or decree of a court of the United States, shall be fined or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
Also the Insurrection Act. Yes, the President can, as Commander-in-Chief, mobilize a state national guard to enforce law when local officials cannot, or will not. Plus the minor issue of the Supremacy Clause in Article 6 of the US Constitution.
Something I would ask many on the left. How would a Governor Steyer enforce his orders? He directs the attorney general and state police to “arrest” ICE agents, I can see a sedition on the part of his officers. Cops would be disinclined to arrest agents enforcing federal law as it is illegal (see above). They would be subject to federal prosecution, and California would drop these cops like a hot rock.
More to the point, I wonder if this gentleman has ever take a ride with a cop. It’s scary enough if you don’t know if the driver you just pulled over is armed. Try it when you do know the man is armed.
For example, a crooked cop on Houston Police was set up by their Internal Affairs department. He was suspected of stealing money from people he pulled over. An IA sergeant was the “driver,” with four marked one-hundred-dollar bills in his wallet. After his interaction with this officer, the sergeant had two.
So do you use patrol officers to take down another patrol officer, in a police vehicle? No, Houston Police used their SWAT team to take him into custody. He had not one but multiple weapons with him and was trained to use them. The man had the two marked bill on him and was convicted of aggravated robbery and official oppression.
One cop, who needed to be arrested, took a SWAT team to taken him into custody. If ICE deploys a detachment of two dozen agents, will Governor Steyer send half the state police against federal law enforcement agents? You’re talking dozens of armed law enforcement officers in close contact. The cops saying, “You’re under arrest,” and the federal agents disagreeing will lead to an “altercation.” With dozens of armed law enforcement officers, it could get ugly. And Mr. Steyer would be looking at prosecution in federal court.
I have no doubt he’s just making waves for his campaign. I would think a multi-billionaire has decent lawyers on the payroll. What’s disgusting is how many citizens and residents of our largest state are buying his propaganda. But seeing the legal opinions of many on the left, I should not be.
Mr. Steyer needs to make a show right now, so he sees himself in front of the courthouse door. He’s standing proud, like many racist Democratic politicians, putting himself out like George Wallace:
Illegal Immigration Now!
Illegal Immigration Tomorrow!
Illegal Immigration Forever!
Michael A. Thiac is a retired Army intelligence officer, with over 23 years experience, including serving in the Republic of Korea, Japan, and the Middle East. He is also a retired police patrol sergeant, with over 22 years’ service, and over ten year’s experience in field training of newly assigned officers. He has been published at The American Thinker, PoliceOne.com, and on his personal blog, A Cop’s Watch.
Opinions expressed are his alone and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of current or former employers.
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